Vent valve module mount

ABSTRACT

A fuel storage module vent system is provided to vent fuel vapor from an interior region of a fuel-storage module.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/490,493, filed May 26, 2011, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

This present disclosure relates to vent apparatus for regulating discharge of fuel vapor from a fuel tank, and particularly to apparatus for venting fuel vapor from a fuel delivery module. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a mounting system for a vent valve.

SUMMARY

A fuel system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a fuel storage vessel and a vent system for the fuel storage vessel. In an illustrative embodiment, the fuel storage vessel is a fuel pump module adapted to be located in an interior region of a fuel tank.

In illustrative embodiments, the vent system includes a module cover, a fuel-vapor vent regulator, and a regulator mount. The module cover is configured to be mounted on the fuel pump module to close an outlet aperture opening into an interior region formed in the fuel pump module. The fuel-vapor vent regulator is configured to vent fuel vapor in the interior region of the fuel pump module to either a fuel vapor recovery canister located outside of the fuel tank or to a fuel vapor recirculation conduit coupled to a fuel tank filler neck associated with the fuel tank.

In illustrative embodiments, the regulator mount is configured to provide snap-together means for using a motion-actuated snap connection to hold the fuel-vapor vent regulator in a stationary position under the module cover. The regulator mount comprises several outwardly projecting retainer lugs coupled to an exterior surface of the fuel-vapor vent regulator. The regulator mount also comprises a downwardly extending sleeve coupled to the underside of the module cover and formed to include a companion lug-receiving channel for each of the retaining lugs. To anchor the fuel-vapor vent regulator to the underside of the module cover, the top of the vent regulator is moved upwardly into a downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity formed in the sleeve and each retainer lug is snapped past an elastic deformable portion of the sleeve to move into and remain in its companion lug-receiving channel formed in the sleeve.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a vent system associated with a fuel pump module located in a fuel tank and a fuel tank filler neck coupled to the fuel tank and showing that the vent system includes a module outlet closure configured to include a module cover arranged to close an outlet opening into an interior region of the fuel pump module, a fuel-vapor vent regulator configured to vent fuel vapor in the interior region of the fuel pump module either to a fuel vapor recovery canister or to a fuel vapor recirculation conduit coupled to the fuel tank filler neck, and a regulator mount configured to hold the vent regulator in a stationary position under the module cover and shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustratively in FIGS. 3 and 5;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an illustrative fuel pump module formed to include an outlet opening into an interior region of the fuel pump module, a fuel-vapor vent regulator shown in the interior region in close proximity to the outlet of the fuel pump module, and a module cover and a diagrammatic view of a regulator mount configured to hold the fuel-vapor vent regulator in the illustrated position when the module cover is mated to the fuel pump module to close the fuel pump module outlet;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective assembly view of components included in an illustrative module outlet closure in accordance with the present disclosure and showing that the module outlet closure includes a fuel pump module cover, a regulator mount comprising a generally ring-shaped sleeve coupled to an underside of the fuel pump module cover and formed to include four vertical lug-receiving channels and four retainer lugs (two shown in solid and two shown in phantom) coupled to a portion of the fuel-vapor vent regulator, and a fuel-vapor vent regulator including a valve-unit cover sized to extend into a downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity formed in the ring-shaped sleeve of the regulator mount and a valve unit separated from and located underneath the valve-unit cover;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the fuel-vapor vent regulator shown in FIG. 3 and showing two of the radially outwardly extending retainer lugs included in the regulator mount and coupled to the valve-unit cover included in the fuel-vapor vent regulator;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective assembly view showing the assembled module outlet closure of FIG. 3 before it is extended into the outlet formed in the fuel pump module and then mated to the fuel pump module to suspend the fuel-vapor vent regulator in the position shown in FIG. 2 and provide the vent system for the fuel pump module;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 after the module outlet closure is mounted on the fuel pump module in the manner suggested in FIG. 5 to provide a fuel pump module vent system in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective assembly view showing an inverted valve-cover unit before it is mated with a companion valve unit to produce the fuel-vapor vent regulator shown in FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 8-10 are enlarged sectional views taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 5 showing how one of the retainer lugs included in the regulator mount is moved into a companion one of the lug-receiving channels formed in the ring-shaped sleeve during movement of the fuel-vapor vent regulator relative to the ring-shaped sleeve that is coupled to the underside of the module cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A vent system 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is provided for use with a fuel storage vessel 12 (e.g., a fuel pump module) as suggested in FIG. 1. Vent system 10 is configured to discharge fuel vapor from fuel storage vessel 12 in accordance with predetermined venting criteria either to a fuel vapor recovery canister 14 or to a fuel vapor recirculation conduit 16 as suggested diagrammatically in FIG. 1. In an illustrative embodiment, vent system 10 regulates discharge of fuel vapor from fuel storage vessel 12 while fuel storage vessel 12 is deployed in an interior region 33 of a fuel tank 32 as diagrammatically in FIG. 1.

An illustrative vent system 10 includes a module cover 24 configured to be mounted on fuel pump module 12 to close an outlet aperture 20 opening into an interior region 22 formed in fuel pump module 12, a fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 located in interior region 22, and a regulator mount 28 as suggested in FIG. 1. Regulator mount 28 is configured to provide quick-connect snap-together means for supporting fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 in interior region 22 of fuel pump module 12 in response to upward movement of fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 toward module cover 24 as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustratively in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6.

A fuel system 30 in accordance with the present disclosure includes a fuel tank 32, a fuel tank filler neck 34, vent system 10, fuel vapor recovery canister 14, and a vapor-transfer conduit 36 coupled in fluid communication to each of vent system 10 and fuel vapor recovery canister 14 as suggested in FIG. 1. Fuel vapor recirculation conduit 16 is also included in fuel system 30 and placed in fluid communication with each of vent system 10 and fuel tank filler neck 34 as suggested in FIG. 1.

Fuel pump module 12 is located in an interior region 33 formed in fuel tank 32 in an illustrative embodiment as suggested in FIG. 1. Fuel pump module 12 is part of a fuel delivery module that is configured to deliver fuel from interior region 33 of fuel tank 32 to a vehicle engine (not shown). A fuel delivery module is an integrated system that often comprises a fuel pump, a housing formed to include a module reservoir, and a fuel sender unit and resides in a fuel tank. It is customary to locate the fuel pump inside the module reservoir and configure the fuel pump to supply fuel through a manifold to the engine.

Module cover 24 is configured to be mated to fuel pump module 12 to close outlet aperture 20 as suggested diagrammatically in FIG. 1 and illustratively in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6. It is within the scope of this disclosure to use any suitable cover-mount means for retaining module cover 24 in a stationary outlet-closing position on fuel pump module 12 while fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 is supported in interior region 22 of fuel pump module 12 by a regulator mount 28 that is coupled to module cover 24 and to vent regulator 26. In an illustrative embodiment, a cover-mount means 40 is a cam-lock system including a series of retainers 42 coupled to fuel pump module 12 and arranged to lie in circumferentially spaced-apart relation to one another around outlet aperture 20 as shown in FIG. 5 and including a series of lock tabs 44 coupled to module cover 24 and configured to mate with retainers 42 to retain module cover 24 on fuel pump module 12 as suggested in FIGS. 5 and 6. A seal ring 46 is provided between module cover 24 and fuel pump module 12 in an illustrative embodiment as shown in FIG. 5. Seal ring 46 cooperates with fuel pump module 12 and module cover 24 to establish a liquid-fuel and fuel vapor seal when module cover 24 is mounted on fuel pump module 12.

Fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 includes a valve unit 50 and a valve-unit cover 60 that is configured to be mounted on a top portion of valve unit 50 in an illustrative embodiment as suggested in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. Valve-unit cover 60 is sized and shaped to extend upwardly into a downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity 700 formed in a sleeve 280 included in regulator mount 28 and coupled to module pump cover 24 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5 when vent regulator 26 is anchored to module cover 24. Regulator mount 28 is configured to provide means for retaining valve-unit cover 60 of vent regulator 26 in regulator-receiving cavity 700 formed in sleeve 280 coupled to module cover 24 so that vent regulator 26 is retained in a stationary position under module cover 24 as shown, for example, in FIG. 5 when module cover 24 is coupled to fuel pump module 12 to close outlet aperture 20.

Regulator mount 28 includes a sleeve 280 appended to the underside of module cover 24 and a radially outwardly extending retainer lug 281 coupled to fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 and arranged to extend into a companion lug-receiving channel 282 formed in sleeve 280 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5 to provide snap-together means for retaining vent regulator 26 in a fixed position under module cover 24 in response to movement of vent regulator 26 relative to module cover 24 as suggested in FIGS. 8-10. In an illustrative embodiment, retainer lug 281 is coupled to valve-unit cover 60 of fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 and lug-receiving channel 282 is formed in sleeve 280 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5. Also in an illustrative embodiment, sleeve 280 is generally ring-shaped and formed to include four uniformly circumferentially spaced-apart lug-receiving channels 282 and four companion retainer lugs 281 are arranged to lie in uniformly circumferentially spaced-apart relation on a cylinder-shaped side wall 61 of valve-unit cover 60 as also suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Module cover 24 includes a top plate 241, a centering ring 242 coupled to an underside 241U of top plate 241, a first (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 243 coupled to a top side 241T of top plate 241 and configured to mate with fuel vapor recirculation conduit 16, and a second (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 244 coupled to top side 241T of top plate 241 and configured to extend through a conduit-receiving channel 283 formed in sleeve 280 and to mate with the vapor-transfer conduit 36 that is coupled to fuel vapor recovery canister 14 as suggested in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6. Sleeve 280 of regulator mount 28 is also coupled to the underside 241U of top plate 241 and is surrounded by centering ring 242 as suggested in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each of lock tabs 44 is coupled to a perimeter portion of top plate 241 in an illustrative embodiment and arranged to mate with a companion retainer 42 coupled to fuel pump module 12.

Sleeve 280 of regulator mount 28 includes a curved rim 701 and a series of standoffs 702 that are arranged to interconnect the underside 241U of top plate 241 and curved rim 701 to retain curved rim 701 in stationary spaced-apart relation from the underside 241U of top plate 241 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. Each of standoffs 702 has an arcuate shape and a concave surface arranged to face toward side wall 61 of valve-unit cover 60 when valve-unit cover 60 of vent regulator 26 extends into regulator-receiving cavity 700 formed in sleeve 280. Curved rim 701 and standoffs 702 cooperate to define regulator-receiving cavity 700 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. Each of the lug-receiving channels 281 is formed between edges of a pair of adjacent standoffs 702 in an illustrative embodiment.

Valve unit 50 of fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 includes a housing 53 and valve means 54 located in housing 53 as suggested in FIGS. 3-6. Any suitable valve means may be used. In an illustrative embodiment, valve means 54 comprises a fill-limit vent valve 541, a float valve 542, and a flow-control valve 543 as shown, for example, in FIG. 6. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,779, which reference is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, for descriptions of suitable valve means. Valve unit 50 also includes upright first and second mount posts 51, 52 coupled to an upper end of housing 53 and configured to mate with valve-unit cover 60 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 7.

Valve-unit cover 60 includes a top wall 62, a side wall 61 depending from a perimeter portion of top wall 62, a first (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 63 aligned with a vent aperture 64 formed in top wall 62, and a second (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 65 aligned with a vent aperture 66 formed in side wall 61 as suggested in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7. Valve-unit cover 60 also includes a partition wall 67 coupled to top wall 62 and configured to form an interior vent chamber 68 in fluid communication with the vent aperture 64 formed in top wall 62 and associated with first (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 62 and a separate exterior chamber 69 in fluid communication with the vent aperture 66 formed in side wall 61 and associated with second (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 65.

Valve-unit cover 60 further includes a first post receiver 601 configured to mate with first mount post 51 included in valve unit 50 and a second post receiver 602 configured to mate with second mount post 52 included in valve unit 50 as shown, for example, in FIG. 7. Each post receiver 601 is located in exterior chamber 69 and along an inner surface (and an internal diameter of side wall 61) as suggested in FIG. 7. In an illustrative embodiment, each of post receivers 51, 52 includes a first segment S1 and a second segment S2 arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first segment S1 to define a post-receiving channel PRC therebetween. Each segment S1, S2 includes a cam ramp configured to guide a mount post into the companion post-receiving channel during mounting of the valve-unit cover 60 on the valve unit 50 as suggested in FIG. 7.

As suggested in FIG. 6, first (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 63 included in valve-unit cover 60 is arranged to extend upwardly into first (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 243 of module cover 24. Second (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 65 of valve-unit cover 60 includes a top tube 65T that is arranged to extend upwardly into second (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 244 of module cover 24. Second (fuel vapor) discharge conduit 65 of valve-unit cover 60 also includes a bottom tube 65B that is arranged to extend downwardly and open into interior region 22 of fuel pump module 12 as suggested in FIG. 6. Fuel vapor extant in interior region 22 of fuel pump module 12 can be vented to fuel vapor recirculation conduit 16 and then to fuel tank filler neck 34 via first (fuel vapor) discharge conduits 63, 24 and to fuel vapor recovery canister 14 via second (fuel vapor) discharge conduits 65, 244 and vapor transfer conduit 36 under the control of valve means 54 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 6.

An illustrative snap-together technique in accordance with the present disclosure for mating valve unit 50 and valve-unit cover 60 is suggested in FIGS. 3, 5, and 8-10. Each retainer lug 281 of regulator mount 28 includes a vertically extending ramp 281R and a horizontally extending bar 281B coupled to a lower and wider portion of ramp 281R as suggested in FIG. 4. Ramp 281R is arranged to intercept a middle portion of bar 281B and is configured as suggested in FIGS. 8-10 to provide means for moving a portion of curved rim 701 of sleeve 280 radially outwardly away from side wall 61 of valve-unit cover 60 in direction 100 in response to upward movement of valve-unit cover 60 in upward direction 101 relative to stationary mount cover 24 (see also FIG. 3). Owing to the elasticity of sleeve 280 of regulator mount 28 as suggested in FIGS. 9 and 10, rim 701 will snap past bar 281B to cause retainer lug 28 to lie in a companion lug-receiving channel 282 formed in sleeve 280 to retain valve-unit cover 60 and valve unit 50 in a stationary position under module cover 24 as suggested in FIG. 5.

An exploded perspective assembly view of components included in an illustrative module outlet closure 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is provided in FIG. 3. Module outlet closure 10 includes a fuel pump module cover 24, a regulator mount 28 comprising a generally ring-shaped sleeve 280 coupled to an underside of the fuel pump module cover 24 and formed to include four vertical lug-receiving channels 281 and four retainer lugs 281 (two shown in solid and two shown in phantom) coupled to a portion of the fuel-vapor vent regulator 28, and a fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 includes a valve-unit cover 60 and a valve unit 50 separated from and located underneath the valve-unit cover 60. An enlarged assembled perspective view of the fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 shown in FIG. 3 is provided in FIG. 4. Two of the radially outwardly extending retainer lugs 281 included in the regulator mount 28 and coupled to the valve-unit cover 60 included in the fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 are shown in FIG. 4.

An enlarged perspective assembly view provided in FIG. 3 shows the assembled module outlet closure 12 before it is extended into the outlet 20 formed in the fuel pump module 12 and then mated to the fuel pump module 12. Module outlet closure 12 is mated to fuel pump machine 12 to suspend the fuel-vapor vent regulator 28 in the position shown in FIG. 2 and provide the vent system for the fuel pump module 12 is shown as FIG. 5.

Vent regulator 26 is coupled easily to module cover 24 to move therewith using the illustrative axial snap-together means provided by regulator mount 28 in accordance with the present disclosure. This avoids, for example, difficult and costly vent-regulator welding operations. This attachment concept provides a common attachment method for fuel delivery module suppliers for, e.g., multi-function or two-stage fill limit vent valves using two vapor flow parts. Vent regulator 26 is attached to module cover 24 using regulator mount 28 for use in steel or plastic fuel tanks without the need to use spin-welded joints. Vent regulator 24 is mounted to underside 241U of top plate 241 to reside higher up in interior region 22 of fuel pump module 12 and to mate directly with first and second (fuel vapor) discharge conduits 243, 244 as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 6.

A vent system 10 is provided for use with a fuel-storage module 12 formed to include an outlet aperture 20 opening into an interior fuel-storage region 22. Vent system 10 includes a module cover 24, a fuel-vapor vent regulator 26, and a regulator mount 28.

Module cover 24 is adapted to be mounted on fuel storage module 12 to close the outlet aperture 20 opening into the interior region 22 formed in fuel-storage module 12. Fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 is configured to conduct and regulate flow of fuel vapor from interior fuel-storage region 22 to a destination outside of fuel-storage module 12. Regulator mount 28 is configured to provide snap-together means for retaining fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 in a stationary position on an underside of module cover 24 using a motion-actuated snap connection in response to upward movement of fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 toward the underside of module cover 24 so that a first fuel-vapor discharge conduit 63 included in fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 mates in fluid communication with a first fuel-vapor discharge conduit 243 included in module cover 24.

Regulator mount 28 includes a sleeve 280 appended to the underside of module cover 24 and a radially outwardly extending retainer lug 281 coupled to fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 as suggested in FIGS. 3-5. Retainer lug 281 is arranged to extend into a companion lug-receiving channel 282 formed in sleeve 280 to orient fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 in a predetermined position relative to module cover 24 to align first fuel-vapor discharge conduit 63 in fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 with first fuel-vapor discharge conduit 243 in module cover 24 and retain fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 in the stationary position.

Sleeve 280 is made of an elastic deformable material in an illustrative embodiment. Retainer lug 281 includes a ramp 281R configured to provide means for temporarily deforming a rim 701 of sleeve 280 bordering lug-receiving channel 282 during upward movement of fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 toward the underside of module cover 24 to allow retainer lug 281 to move past rim 701 of sleeve 280 and extend into lug-receiving channel 282 to retain fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 in the stationary position as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 8-10.

Sleeve 280 further includes a first standoff 702 coupled to the underside of module cover 24 and arranged to extend downwardly toward fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 and a second standoff 702 coupled to the underside of module cover 24 and arranged to extend downwardly toward fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 as suggested in FIG. 4. Second standoff 702 is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first standoff 702 to form the lug-receiving channel 282 therebetween. Rim 701 is arranged to interconnect free ends of the first and second standoffs 702 and to deform temporarily when engaged by ramp 281R of retainer lug 281 during movement of fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 toward the underside of module cover 24. Each of the first and second standoffs 702 has a concave surface arranged to face toward fuel-vapor vent valve 26. Rim 701 has an arcuate shape and a concave surface arranged to face toward fuel-vapor vent valve 26.

Sleeve 280 includes a curved rim 701 and a series of standoffs 702 that are arranged to interconnect the underside of module cover 24 and the curved rim 701 to retain the curved rim 701 in stationary spaced-apart relation from the underside of module cover 24 as suggested in FIG. 4. Each of the standoffs 702 has an arcuate shape and a concave surface arranged to face toward the fuel-vapor vent valve. First and second standoffs 702 in the series of standoffs cooperate to form the lug-receiving channel 282 therebetween.

Fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 includes a valve unit 50 and a valve-unit cover 60 coupled to valve unit 50 as suggested in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. Valve-unit cover 60 is arranged to extend into a cover-receiving chamber 700 formed in sleeve 280 upon movement of fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 to the stationary position. Valve unit 50 includes a housing 53 coupled to valve unit cover 60 and a flow-control valve 54 located inside housing 53. Retainer lug 281 is coupled to valve unit cover 60 to move therewith.

Valve-unit cover 60 includes a side wall 61 arranged to face toward the standoffs 702 as suggested in FIG. 5. The radially outwardly extending retainer lug 281 is coupled to side wall 61 of valve-cover unit 60. First fuel-vapor discharge conduit 63 included in fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 is coupled to valve unit 50 and arranged to extend through an aperture 64 formed in valve-unit cover 60 to mate with first fuel-vapor discharge conduit 243 included in module cover 24. Valve-unit cover 60 further includes a post receiver 601 coupled to side wall 61 and arranged to receive and mate with a mount post 51 included in valve unit 50 and coupled to housing 53 as suggested in FIG. 7.

Fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 further includes a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit 65 aligned with a vent aperture 66 formed in side wall 61 of valve-unit cover 60 and coupled to side wall 61 to move therewith as suggested in FIGS. 6 and 7. Second fuel-vapor discharge conduit 65 is arranged to mate in fluid communication with a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit 244 included in module cover 24 when fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 is retained in the stationary position. Second fuel-vapor discharge conduit 65 is formed to include a vapor-conducting passageway 65P having an inlet aligned with aperture 66 formed in side wall 61 as suggested in FIG. 7 and an outlet arranged to lie in fluid communication with a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit 244 formed within module cover 24 when fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 is retained in the stationary position as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The radially outwardly extending retainer lug 281 is coupled to an exterior surface of side wall 61 and arranged to extend through lug-receiving channel 282 from a root end located in downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity 700 to a free end located outside of downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity 70 as suggested in FIG. 5. Each of sleeve 280 and side wall 61 is cylinder-shaped in illustrative embodiments.

Sleeve 280 is formed to include four spaced-apart lug-receiving channels 282 as suggested in FIG. 3. Regulator mount 281 includes four radially outwardly extending retainer lugs 281 coupled to side wall 61 and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another. Each retainer lug 281 is arranged to extend into a companion one of the four spaced-apart lug-receiving channels 282.

Fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 includes a top wall 62 arranged to face toward the underside of module cover 24 when fuel-vapor vent valve 26 is retained in the stationary position as suggested in FIG. 6. First fuel-vapor discharge conduit 63 is coupled to top wall 62 and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to second fuel-vapor discharge conduit 65. A portion of first fuel-vapor discharge conduit 63 is surrounded by sleeve 280 when fuel-vapor vent regulator 26 is retained in the stationary position. 

1. A vent system for use with a fuel storage module formed to include an outlet aperture opening into an interior fuel-storage region, the vent system comprising a module cover adapted to be mounted on the fuel storage module to close the outlet aperture opening into the interior fuel-storage region formed in the fuel-storage module, a fuel-vapor vent regulator configured to conduct and regulate flow of fuel vapor from the interior fuel-storage region to a destination outside of the fuel-storage module, and a regulator mount is configured to provide snap-together means for retaining the fuel-vapor vent regulator in a stationary position on an underside of the module cover using a motion-actuated snap connection in response to upward movement of the fuel-vapor vent regulator toward the underside of the module cover so that a first fuel-vapor discharge conduit included in the fuel-vapor vent regulator mates in fluid communication with a first fuel-vapor discharge conduit included in the module cover.
 2. The vent system of claim 1, wherein the regulator mount includes a sleeve appended to the underside of the module cover and a radially outwardly extending retainer lug coupled to the fuel-vapor vent regulator and arranged to extend into a companion lug-receiving channel formed in the sleeve to orient the fuel-vapor vent regulator in a predetermined position relative to the module cover to align the first fuel-vapor discharge conduit in the fuel-vapor vent regulator with the first fuel-vapor discharge conduit in the module cover and retain the fuel-vapor vent regulator in the stationary position.
 3. The vent system of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is made of an elastic deformable material and the radially outwardly extending retainer lug includes a ramp configured to provide means for temporarily deforming a rim of the sleeve bordering the lug-receiving channel during upward movement of the fuel-vapor vent regulator toward the underside of the module cover to allow the retainer lug to move past the rim of the sleeve and extend into the lug-receiving channel to retain the fuel-vapor vent regulator in the stationary position.
 4. The vent system of claim 3, wherein the sleeve further includes a first standoff coupled to the underside of the module cover and arranged to extend downwardly toward the fuel-vapor vent regulator and a second standoff coupled to the underside of the module cover and arranged to extend downwardly toward the fuel-vapor vent regulator and lie in spaced-apart relation to the first standoff to form the lug-receiving channel therebetween, the rim is arranged to interconnect free ends of the first and second standoffs and to deform temporarily when engaged by the ramp of the retainer lug during movement of the fuel-vapor vent regulator toward the underside of the module cover.
 5. The vent system of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second standoffs has a concave surface arranged to face toward the fuel-vapor vent valve.
 6. The vent system of claim 4, wherein the rim has an arcuate shape and a concave surface arranged to face toward the fuel-vapor vent valve.
 7. The vent system of claim 3, wherein the sleeve includes a curved rim and a series of standoffs that are arranged to interconnect the underside of the module cover and the curved rim to retain the curved rim in stationary spaced-apart relation from the underside of the module cover, each of the standoffs has an arcuate shape and a concave surface arranged to face toward the fuel-vapor vent valve, and first and second standoffs in the series of standoffs cooperate to form the lug-receiving channel therebetween.
 8. The vent system of claim 7, wherein the fuel-vapor vent regulator includes a valve unit and a valve-unit cover coupled to the valve unit arranged to extend into a cover-receiving chamber formed in the sleeve upon movement of the fuel-vapor vent regulator to the stationary position, the valve unit includes a housing coupled to the valve unit cover and a flow-control valve located inside the housing, and the radially outwardly extending retainer lug is coupled to the valve unit cover to move therewith.
 9. The vent system of claim 8, wherein the valve-unit cover includes a side wall arranged to face toward the standoffs and the radially outwardly extending retainer lug is coupled to the side wall of the valve-cover unit.
 10. The vent system of claim 9, wherein the first fuel-vapor discharge conduit included in the fuel-vapor vent regulator is coupled to the valve unit and arranged to extend through an aperture formed in the valve-unit cover to mate with the first fuel-vapor discharge conduit included in the module cover.
 11. The vent system of claim 9, wherein the fuel-vapor vent regulator further includes a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit aligned with a vent aperture formed in the side wall of the valve-unit cover and coupled to the side wall to move therewith and arranged to mate in fluid communication with a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit included in the module cover when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position.
 12. The vent system of claim 9, wherein the valve-unit cover further includes a post receiver coupled to the side wall and arranged to receive and mate with a mount post included in the valve unit and coupled to the housing.
 13. The vent system of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is formed to include a downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity, the fuel-vapor vent regulator includes a side wall arranged to lie in the downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position, and the radially outwardly extending retainer lug is coupled to an exterior surface of the side wall and arranged to extend through the lug-receiving channel from a root end located in the downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity to a free end located outside of the downwardly opening regulator-receiving cavity.
 14. The vent system of claim 13, wherein each of the sleeve and the side wall is cylinder-shaped.
 15. The vent system of claim 13, wherein the sleeve is formed to include four spaced-apart lug-receiving channels, the regulator mount includes four radially outwardly extending retainer lugs coupled to the side wall and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another, and each retainer lug is arranged to extend into a companion one of the four spaced-apart lug-receiving channels.
 16. The vent system of claim 13, wherein the sleeve is formed to include a conduit-receiving channel, the fuel-vapor vent regulator further includes a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit coupled to the side wall and arranged to extend away from the side wall and through the conduit-receiving channel formed in the sleeve when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position, the second fuel-vapor discharge conduit is formed to include a vapor-conducting passageway having an inlet aligned with an aperture formed in the side wall and an outlet arranged to lie in fluid communication with a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit formed within the module cover when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position.
 17. The vent system of claim 16, wherein the fuel-vapor vent regulator includes a top wall arranged to face toward the underside of the module cover when the fuel-vapor vent valve is retained in the stationary position and the first fuel-vapor discharge conduit is coupled to the top wall and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the second fuel-vapor discharge conduit.
 18. The vent system of claim 17, wherein a portion of the first fuel-vapor discharge conduit is surrounded by the sleeve when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position.
 19. The vent system of claim 1, wherein the fuel-vapor vent regulator further includes a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit arranged to mate in fluid communication with a second fuel-vapor discharge conduit included in the module cover when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position.
 20. The vent system of claim 19, wherein the fuel-vapor vent regulator further includes a top wall arranged to face toward the underside of the module cover when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position and a side wall coupled to a peripheral portion of the top wall and arranged to extend away from the underside of the module cover when the fuel-vapor vent regulator is retained in the stationary position, the first fuel-vapor discharge conduit is coupled to the top wall, and the second fuel-vapor discharge conduit is coupled to the side wall and arranged to extend through an opening formed in the regulator mount. 